Proposed International Airport at Somersby

[Alicia]

High hopes
BY PAUL CALLAGHAN
15/01/2009 

THE Somersby area is back on the radar as a site for Sydney's second airport following news that a business consortium is preparing a strong case as to why the Federal Government should locate the airport on the Central Coast.

A member of the consortium, who at this stage wants to remain anonymous, said there were many feasible reasons why the Somersby plateau should be the location for the second international airport site.

The plateau was short-listed as the second Sydney airport site in the early 1970s but fell out of favour when other sites, including Badgerys Creek, became preferred locations.

The issue of a second airport is back in the news following the Federal Government's release of a National Aviation Policy Green Paper.

This planning document will be followed by a government White Paper which is expected to confirm a site for the second Sydney airport in the second half of 2009.

In December the Minister for Transport and Infrastructure Anthony Albanese edged closer to ending a 62-year-old debate over the site of the second airport.

He said it would be built outside the Sydney basin and supported by strong links to the city by train or road.

More than 20 second Sydney airport options have come and gone since 1946 and Somersby, and an area north of Wyong at Warnervale, were among the sites considered.

Badgerys Creek has been struck off the list and Defence Minister Joel Fitzgibbon said that Williamtown should be regarded as a major regional airport and not a second Sydney airport.

The government would be faced with major residential disruption and aircraft noise problems in western Sydney if the second airport was located at Richmond.

This would appear to narrow the selection list to either Goulburn, Canberra or possibly Somersby with Somersby having the advantage of being closer to Sydney.

A ring road through western Sydney connecting with the Hunter Valley and Newcastle has been mooted in business circles to relieve pressure on the F3 freeway.

Such a ring road could link with Somersby, and the F3, and faster train services between the Central Coast and Sydney could be developed.

 

[brett]

Fingers crossed!

 

[dibo]

it kinda makes sense, but i could pretty much guarantee it won't happen.

 

[Arabmariner]

:  Pie the sky imo.

We'll talk about it again after the next " green paper" or " white paper" is released in around another 10 years or so..............zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

 

[scottmac]

It makes a lot of sense and would be awesome for the coast. I would move back to the coast in a heartbeat and work there if it ever got off the ground. (no pun intended!)

 

[Jorome Alexander Bennett]

it kinda makes sense, but i could pretty much guarantee it won't happen.

Dibber dobber, why is your confidence not sky high?

 

[dibo]

it kinda makes sense, but i could pretty much guarantee it won't happen.

Dibber dobber, why is your confidence not sky high?

5 letters - NIMBY

 

[Jorome Alexander Bennett]

it kinda makes sense, but i could pretty much guarantee it won't happen.

Dibber dobber, why is your confidence not sky high?

5 letters - NIMBY

Democracy stinks sometimes.

 

[MattSimon]

Laughed out Loud. Are we talking about the same people who have taken two decades to lay some track from Epping to Chatswood? Good luck with a new airport legends

 

[FFC Mariner]

Brilliant idea, lets have an international airport near a freeway the comes to a juddering halt 22 klms from the City

Whilst I think it would be great for the Coast, we couldnt even get an airport at Warnervale FFS

I'm with Dibo,never happen

 

[marinermick]

Brilliant idea, lets have an international airport near a freeway the comes to a juddering halt 22 klms from the City

Whilst I think it would be great for the Coast, we couldnt even get an airport at Warnervale FFS

I'm with Dibo,never happen

Will never happen, but the idea was to build the transport infrastructure with the airport. Therefore the M7 wiould be extended northwards to build a second freeway out of Sydney and would eventually link to the other side of Somersby to the freeway.

A fast train would link the freeway to the city possibly as an add-odd to the Castle Hill line.

Given some of the geography of the area north of the hawkesbury river this infrastructure would be incredibly expensive killing off any chances that it would actually happen.

All looks good in theory but totally not cost-effective.

 

[FFC Mariner]

2nd freeway, infrastructure.



oh, its NSW

 

[Sacko]

If I wanted aircraft noise I would have moved to Newtown!

So I for 1 hope it doesn't happen and with the recent issues with the North West Link, [who paid for the adverts BTW] I think we should be safe for another 20 years!

 

[MattSimon]

Whilst I think it would be great for the Coast, we couldnt even get an airport at Warnervale FFS

Don't get me started on that debacle. Been going to the aeroclub for 15 years with the old man and soon we'll have to go to Swansea (as close to Newcastle as I dare venture).

 

[skilbeck]

the coast would need it to ensure it is chosen as a venue for a world cup bid

 

[Ranyen]

A Domestic Airport - more likely but not an international.

Domestic would still be good for us, means we won't have to travel to Syd or Newie to see a CCM away game (Unless it's in NZ)

 

[loyalist]

A Domestic Airport - more likely but not an international.

Domestic would still be good for us, means we won't have to travel to Syd or Newie to see a CCM away game (Unless it's in NZ)

or if its in syd or Newie

 

[Bear]

lol sydney away by plane, the ultimate away trip

 

[marinermick]

lol sydney away by plane, the ultimate away trip

nah, newcastle - fly to williamstown, hire a car and drive 30 minutes to the stadium

 

[FFC Mariner]

I caught a plane from Belmont to Sydney once. They used to take off and land over the lake.

Domestic hub at Somersby makes a lot of sense when you think about people from the Hills/N Shore who would rather go up the freeway than M2/Tunnel/ S X Drive.